Thomas Byrne
Question:190. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount which will be specifically allocated in 2017 to teaching coding in primary and post-primary schools. [41007/16]
View answerFriday, 16 December 2016
Questions (190)
Written answers
Exact expenditure figures regarding the teaching of coding in schools are not available, as funding is not allocated by my Department on a subject by subject basis. However, work is taking place at both primary and post-primary levels on coding.
In 2017, 5,800 teachers were provided with ICT training, to include coding, by the Professional Development Service for Teachers - Technology in Education (PDST - TIE). PDST-TIE promotes and supports the integration of ICT in teaching and learning in primary and post-primary schools. In addition 239 ICT tutors were trained.
Primary
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently in the process of developing a new primary mathematics curriculum to include computational thinking (including coding), and flexible and creative thinking skills.
Junior Cycle
The NCCA has developed a short course on Coding which is available to schools for their Junior Cycle programme on an optional basis. The course looks to build on any coding skills that primary students might have experienced while offering insight into possible future studies in computer science and software engineering. Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) is my Department’s support service providing continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for teachers to support the implementation of Junior Cycle reform. The JCT will provide CPD in relation to the Coding short course in 2017.
Senior Cycle
The NCCA was requested by my Department to examine the introduction Computer Science in schools from September 2019. In this context, the NCCA has initially commissioned a scoping/research study looking at provision for computer science in a number of countries. The report of the study will be published in the New Year. A public consultation process, is planned for early in 2017.
As part of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, €210m will be distributed to schools for the purchase of ICT Infrastructure to support the implementation of ICT in the curriculum commencing with €30m in the first half of 2017.
Furthermore, on top of all these initiatives, a large number of schools are running voluntary coding programmes through initiatives such as Coder Dojo (over 200 dojos in Ireland), Hour of Code where over 200 events took place in Ireland and the annual computer programming olympiad held at Dublin City University.